Can C's Better D Prop Up Worse O?

Can a stifling defense make up for an average-at-best offense? That's what the Boston Celtics are trying to find out after losing All-Star point guard and offensive quarterback Rajon Rondo for the season.
Early numbers are encouraging: Over the three games since Rondo was lost for the season with a torn ACL, Boston has posted a defensive rating (points per 100 possessions) of a measly 87.9. The closest team during that span (Washington, surprisingly) is 6½ points worse. The Magic team that Boston defeated on Friday night for its third consecutive win? They have a defensive rating of 115 over their past three games (27.1 points worse than Boston in that span)...